A collection of Edwardian rugby memorabilia is expected to fetch up to £12,000 when it goes up for auction next week.

The treasure trove of sporting items includes shirts, caps and documents from an early 20th century tour of New Zealand and Australia, dubbed the Imperial Crusade.

In 1908, the Anglo-Welsh Lions set sail for the Southern Hemisphere in a bid to save rugby union from the emerging league game, which was becoming increasingly popular Down Under.

Among the English players was Thomas Smith, a former Wigston Grammar School pupil, who was a Tigers player at the time, and after whom the collection is named.

James Laverack, of Louth auctioneers John Taylors, where the lot will appear on Tuesday, said: "The Smith Collection is extensive and is probably the best to come on to the market for a very long time.

"It includes three jerseys from the tour, an Anglo-Welsh cap, blazer badge and hat ribbons, plus an album and folder containing match programmes, menu cards, signatures, postcards, newspaper cuttings, letters and souvenirs.

"The collection also includes a number of contemporary items relating to his club, Leicester Tigers, including caps, club tie and other memorabilia.

"However, for some, the most interesting part of the collection will be the documentation relating to the attempts to entice Smith to play rugby league, the rumours of which were enough to put an abrupt end to his rugby union playing days immediately after the tour.

"He was never selected for England again."

The "crusade" went badly for the Lions players, who spent more time visiting picturesque parts of both countries than training.

James said: "The crusade was not a great success, which is perhaps not surprising when we hear how the two teams prepared for the third and final test in Auckland.

"While the All Blacks trained flat-out in the week ahead of the game, the Lions – who had already lost the first Test 32-5 and managed only a 3-3 draw in the second – went sightseeing for four days. Surprise, surprise, they lost the game 29-0."

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